Dec. 23, 2024

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Mike Shafer, finance and operations manager for the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

Name: Mike Shafer

Age: 28

Hometown: Sioux Falls

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

My dad’s side of the family has been in Sioux Falls for generations, so after growing up here and graduating from Augie, it felt natural to stay.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

My partner, Ruth, and I have a great community of friends and family in the area. Sioux Falls is impressively dynamic for its size, so for us it’s an engaging place to live while retaining many of the benefits of a small city.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

At the Community Foundation, we’re a small and tight-knit group of people who care about each other and care about making our community a better place. It’s a privilege to be a part of that.

How did you get connected to your industry?

I started my finance career in banking during the pandemic, and I was lucky to have managers and mentors who believed in me and encouraged me to grow. I’ll always be grateful to them, and I knew that I wanted to transition to the nonprofit side of things. I turned to a friend who worked at the Community Foundation at the time, and she recommended me for this position.

Describe your workplace in three words.

Steadfast, empathetic and connected.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I know a whole lot about cheese! In college, I worked at a local cheese shop on the side; it was a great experience, and I got to learn all about the fascinating world of cheese and wine. To this day, I make a mean charcuterie board.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

I’m lucky enough to be part of an organization that’s committed to the future of Sioux Falls and supporting the philanthropists and nonprofits that make our community stronger. It’s an honor to contribute to that each day.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

Ruth and I are foodies, so we would love to see some of our favorite restaurants from other cities show up locally. I often dream of the sweet potato pancakes at Snooze A.M. Eatery.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

I have many hobbies and interests, so I’m having a hard time choosing one thing. Recently we visited Portland, Oregon, and I stumbled upon an amazing shop that specializes in old film cameras. I’d either start something like that or a bike shop. I could — and often do — think about bikes all day.